AC Owners Club Forum
AC Owners Club Forum => Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum => Topic started by: AK1131 on May 10, 2010, 20:33:39
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I found this plate on a 1993 AK posted for sale on Hemmings. Is this plate real? I have never seen one with Brooklands,Surrey,England only Thames Ditton on vintage Cobras.
Please view at:
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/ac/cobra/759109.html#more_photos
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What does it show on your plate, Fred?
That is correct for a MkIV.
Mind you, if you want one that doesn`t say where it was made, there was a bunch on eBay!
(http://i.ebayimg.com/15/!Bs3IZ6w!Wk~$(KGrHqUH-D0EvD2f824TBL5q25833!~~_35.JPG)
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Chassis plate looks genuine to me but the description of the vehicle as "1 of 50 Lightweights " certainly is not. Apart from the Supercharger, with the exception of the straight bottom on the dash everything else (including the chassis number) looks like a "normal" MkIV.
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The car has an AK, not an AKL vin, there never was a Kenne Bell S/C, the hood scoop was an option as was the dash...but all in, the car is ;by vehicle identification number; a standard AutoKraft MKIV...to bad the seller doesn't do his homework...perhaps he did and simply took what he liked from his research.
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Dear NIKB68,
My car have the right to use the AC logo. The Brookland plate would be nice to have. Is there a source?
Thanks,
Fred
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It could be a lightweight as the chassis number appears in the middle of a batch that were produced at that time - according to the 2001 register. The register does not indicate that it was fitted with a Supercharger so it could well be an ex-factory addition.
My Superblower records show that the first Mk IV with a factory supercharger was ACG 1444 (1997). This was a Paxton unit. By the time the prefix ACSB was used starting with 7001 the supercharger fitted was Powerdyne.
In general I believe that all the Brooklands produced cars bore this name on their plate as their place of manufacture - certainly the Superblowers did.
Hope some of this helps
Regards
Ian (Superblower Registrar)
quote]Originally posted by AK1131
I found this plate on a 1993 AK posted for sale on Hemmings. Is this plate real? I have never seen one with Brooklands,Surrey,England only Thames Ditton on vintage Cobras.
Please view at:
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/ac/cobra/759109.html#more_photos
[/quote]
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Ian, it would appear the nose is wrong from the pictures (looks like a MKIV rather than the AKL/MKIII nose), the blower is a roots type (Kenne Bell I believe (didn't know that K. B. was a factory option) and the serial is definately not an AKL. Brian was pretty meticulous about vins on production cars as I recall.Jim
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I am fairly certain that, from about 1976, the material, material thickness, lettering and information on chassis plates was the subject of a manufacturers drawing which was type-approved before production. Whilst it would be unwise to publish such drawings, if you are in any doubt it may be worth making an enquiry to Steve Gray or John Owen to ask if they can confirm the autenthicity of an individual plate.
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There are 2 elements on this car that are similar to a Lightweight, the straight bottomed dash and the 2 (rather than 3 ) screen wipers. Things that indicate it is not a Lightweight are:- pneumatic bumper mounts, long nose, lips on rear wheel arch, rollbar downtubes hidden behind rear bulkhead, 16 (rather than 15) inch wheels, position of fuel filler, layout in boot (trunk), padded dash, door trims and latch, no L in chassis number. I therefore believe this is certainly not a Lightweight though still think that the chassis plate is genuine.
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The following information was obtained from the previous private owner in 2007 when it was first advertised for sale:
AK 1385 is one variation on the “lightweight” theme. As a U.S customer car, it is built to standard Mark IV U.S specifications (DOT and EPA legal) as necessary, and otherwise incorporates the lightweight revisions. Most, if not all, of the standard Mark IVs brought into the U.S prior to 1990 had the long nose design. Although it is hard to determine exact numbers, it is clear that AK 1385 is one of just a handful of street legal short nose “Lightweight” Mark IVs in the U.S. And the better built MkIV is rarer than the Shelbys.
1993 AC AUTOKRAFT COBRA MK IV
AK 1385
5450 MILES
LIGHTWEIGHT
FACTORY LIGHTWEIGHT BUILD UPDATES INCLUDE SHORT NOSE; FRONT BRAKE DUCTS; TWO WIPERS (AN ORIGINAL LIGHTWEIGHT FRONT CLIP); 302 GT40 HEADS WITH CATALYST; OIL COOLER; REVISED STRAIGHT ACROSS DASHBOARD DESIGN; ADJUSTABLE STEERING COLUMN (FORD); REVISED SUSPENSION GEOMETRY; HOOD SCOOP; ROLL HOOP; RACING HARNESS DRIVER SIDE MOUNTINGS (NO HARNESS); ALL MORE IN LINE WITH THE MKIII, OTHER THAN SPECIFICATIONS NECESSARY TO MAKE IT A DOCUMENTED U.S. LEGAL CAR
SIXTEEN-INCH HALIBRAND WHEELS
SALISBURY LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL; 3.31:1
BONNET WITH BROAD ALUMINUM MOLDED-IN AIR SCOOP (TO ACCOMMODATE SUPERGHARGER)
THE REVISED DASHBOARD IS MADE TO LOOK LIKE ’60s COBRAS WITH CHROME BEZEL GUAGES, TOGGLE SWITCHES AND PUSH BUTTONS, NO HEATER CONTROLS OR IDIOT LIGHTS; THE HEATER CONTROLS ARE HIDDEN UNDERNEATH THE DASH (AN ORIGINAL LIGHTWEIGHT DASH)
METALLIC PAINT (JAGUAR RACING GREEN POSEIDON); SATINLESS STEEL SIDE VENTS; WINDWINGS; 4 KNOCKOFF SPINNERS; WOODEN GEARNOB; PERSPEX SUNVISORS; TAILORED RUBBER OVERMATS; LOCKING MONZA FUEL CAP; WOODRIM (NARDI) STEERING WHEEL; COBRA BADGING; RACING MIRROR-LEFT SIDE
FACTORY TONNEAU, AND TOP AND SIDE CURTAINS IN CARRYING BAGS; TOOL KIT; HEAD RESTS; OWNERS MANUAL; AC BUILD AND SALE RECORDS
ORDERED NEW TODAY AT THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE OF 80,623.00 POUNDS STERLING, THE CURRENT CONVERSION PRICE FOR THIS CAR WOULD BE $156,980.00;
IN 1998, AC CARS GROUP LTD’S “SUPERBLOWER” SOLD FOR 72,500 POUNDS STERLING
ADDITIONAL ITEMS
302 EFI FORD ENGINE (ORIGINAL); WINDSOR JR. PORTED AND POLISHED HEADS WITH STAINLESS STEEL VALVES AND ROLLER ROCKERS; CRANE CAM; HIGH FLOW INJECTORS; MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR; KENNE BELL T1000-5 POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT (WHIPPLECHARGER) SUPERCHARGER; TUBULAR EXHAUST MANIFOLD; IGNITION WITH AUTOMATIC TIMED COOL DOWN SHUTOFF; PROFESSIONALLY BUILT; MA EMISSION COMPLIANT; ENGINE IS RATED AT 410 HP AND 420 FT. LB. OF TORQUE
TREMEC TR-3550 FIVE-SPEED (OVERDRIVE) TRANSMISSION
CUSTOM FITTED REMOTE CONTROLLED (IN GLOVEBOX) PIONEER SUPER TUNER IV DEX-M400 RADIO AND STEREO SOUND SYSTEM (TWO SPEAKERS), 6 CD CHANGER IN THE BOOT; POWER ANTENNA
FULL SECURITY ALARM SYSTEM
APPROXIMATELY $15,000 TO $20,000 IN PROFESSIONAL UPGADES AFTER BEING DELIVERED NEW
COVERCRAFT CUSTOM TAN FLANNEL CAR COVER
1998 NEW GOODYEAR EAGLE F1 GS HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES: F- 225/50 ZR-16; R-255/50-16
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ANF289's post does resolve a question in my mind as to how a "Lightweight" could be legally sold in the US - particularly with regard to the requirement to fit 5mph bumpers, collapsable steering column etc. Sounds like this was a clever piece of marketing/pricing by Autokraft at the time to sell a slightly revised MkIV.
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I stand corrected!?
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quote:
Originally posted by AK1131: Dear NIKB68,
My car have the right to use the AC logo. The Brookland plate would be nice to have. Is there a source?
Thanks, Fred
Fred, Definitely contact Steve Gray @ AC HERITAGE (http://"http://www.acheritage.co.uk/contactus.html"), and I would think if you tell them chassis & engine no`s, they would stamp them 'correctly' for you before despatch. I wonder how yours came to be missing? It certainly would be a nice finishing touch to replace it.
[:D]
Nik.
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Wow, I ask a simple question that turned into an inquisition.
Nik, thank you for your answer. I contact Steve Gray at AC Heritage.
Best regards to all,
Fred Mix
AK1131[:)]
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PS: I have the rivets[8D]
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Dear Nik,
I have email Steve Gray twice with no reply. Could you please contact him for me.
Thanks,
Fred[8D]
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quote:
Originally posted by AK1131
I found this plate on a 1993 AK posted for sale on Hemmings. Is this plate real? I have never seen one with Brooklands,Surrey,England only Thames Ditton on vintage Cobras.
Please view at:
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/ac/cobra/759109.html#more_photos
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quote:
Originally posted by AK1131
I found this plate on a 1993 AK posted for sale on Hemmings. Is this plate real? I have never seen one with Brooklands,Surrey,England only Thames Ditton on vintage Cobras.
Please view at:
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/ac/cobra/759109.html#more_photos
I have not cruised the Forum for over a year, and I just found this thread about my car. Unfortunately, much of the confusion comes from my Broker's lack of attention to the detailed information I provided to him.
ANF289 posted information that I had provided to him early in my research into my car (at the time that I first put it up for sale). I now know that, at that point, there was still much to learn about my car; especially as a result of obtaining all of the build sheets and purchase information from John Owen.
To put some of this to rest: I believe everyone knows that not all AKL's are equal. There were around 47 AKL chassis numbers. However, there were only about 20 true Lightweights built. The remaining Lightweights were built along the lines of the standard AK but with cosmetic and power upgrades.
My car does not have an AKL, but it was built with the cosmetic and power upgrades as set out in the 1992 Autokraft Lightweight Specifications. I have no answer for how this happened. The build sheets show that it was originally built as an EEC car, and was sitting in the London Showroom in that form. The sheets also show that it was converted back to U.S. legal specs. for import here. It is a fully documented, legal U.S. car.
The engine is the original engine and was modified by the first owner shortly after the car was delivered. He is a serious vintage car owner and racer, and he had his crew chief supervise the modifications which were done by a professional Ford engine shop. It is a beautiful job, runs perfectly, and is emission legal. Unfortunately, that was the extent of the information I was able to get from the original owner.
I hope this helps to clear things up. I would be happy to provide additional information. My car is still for sale and it would be nice to see it ended up with an AC enthusiast.
Sorry about the earlier blank post. I am new at this.
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Just out of interest, if there were 47 AKL cars manufactured but only about 20 that are true lightweights does anybody know the AKL numbers of the 20 and what makes them true lightweights and different to the other AKL's
Thanks, Luke
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The chassis numbers should be detailed in the MkIV register which is available to all members on this site. The differences that denote a "real" lightweight are:
Twin tube rather than telescopic bumper supports
Short nose
Two rather than three wipers
Straight dash with Mk3 instruments and switches[8)]
VW rather than Ford Scorpio steering column
Mk3 door panels and door catches
Roll bar down tubes visible inside cabin
No headrests or mounts for them
No "lips" on rear wheel arches
No side repeaters above side vents and in rear wheel arches
No reversing lamp set into rear valance
AC pedals
Aston filler inset to RH side rear wing and fuel tank on boot floor as opposed to behind bulkhead
15 inch wheels
SVO engine with 345 HP
Am working from memory so do not claim that this is a comprehensive list and welcome any amendments/ additions. Looks to me that the vehicle that is the subject of this post only qualifies on 4 counts:- the wipers, the short nose, the dash and the steering column